Tweezers



Aug. 4, 1936. s HA ER 2,049,520

TWEEZERS Filed March 50, 1935 is Q 43 30 3/ Immum I I "rum A j a4: 7! if 4 4a 79 76 311 i0 .22

INVENTOR 3/ SAU L SHALE R ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES TWEEZERS Saul Shaler, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Bresduck, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation Application March 30, 1935, Serial No. 13,794

20 Claims.

The invention relates to tweezers of the small hand type commonly called hair tweezers and specifically relates to tweezers of the type wherein the jaws or pincers are initially moved transversely of their lengths into operative clutching position and then the clutch jaws with the hair or other article grasped thereby are quickly moved as a unit longitudinally away from the original location of the grasped article.

The present disclosure has for its primary object the providing of a more simplified, more easily constructed. and thus more economically produced tweezer of the type outlinedthan has been known heretofore and features an improvement in factory production of a tweezer rather than the providing of a new form of tweezer possessing any functionally new attributes.

The controlling object of the invention therefore is to provide a construction of tweezer which will possess the known function of grasping a hair or like small object, and then quickly pulling the hair from the skin, and at the same time to avoid'the necessity of using the large number of separate parts, some of which are diflicultly formed and which parts have been necessary with similar known forms of tweezers now on the market.

Differently expressed, the present invention features a construction of tweezers with the component parts few in number and designed in such way'that they can be produced as a factory proposition, mainly from die formed parts and punchings, and in which thecomposite parts can be assembled with the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor and at the same time provide a neat, compact article which can be carried about in the pocket like a fountain pen or lip stick case. 7

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawing and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of tweezer embodying the invention, and the invention .also consists in certain new and novel features of 'construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of atweezer in closed position and constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged showings of the tweezer shown in Fig. l with the retainingcap removed and the main part shown in a longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 2 showing in full line the parts in their normal open position and showing in dotted lines the jaws 'moved into their clutching position and in Fig. 3 showing theiposition of the jaws when retracted into the casing and with the retaining cap in position; 2

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow; and

. Figs. 5 and 6 are explanatory views; Fig. 5 being a separate showing of the jaws and their actuating mechanism before they are assembled with the casing and Fig. 6 is a plan view looking downupon the upper jaw shown in the several preceding figures.

In the drawing and referring first to the showing in Fig. 1 there is disclosed a tubular barrel or casing I0 closed at one end by a closing and retaining cap II telescoping the open end of the barrel. The casing I0 is rectangular, that is, substantially square in cross section, as shown in cut away adjacent the open end l2 to form a long opening II. The opening is designed to be closed by a lever or cover l8, one end of which is bent back upon itself to form a hinge barrel I 9 pivotally mounted upon an assembly pin 20 opposite ends of which are mounted in the side walls 2| and 22 of the casing. The lever I8 is provided adjacent its free end 23 with a pair of lugs 24 in which is secured a pivot pin 25.

A pair of jaws 26, 21 are hingedly connected atone end on pin 28, passing through overlapping extensions one of which is shown at 29 in Fig; 6. Contrary to. the usual practice, these jaws are not intentionally made resilient, but are of hard cold rolled steel free of tempering. In order to give the jaws structural strength to compensate for the thin stock material used, they are each provided with a longitudinally extending corrugation 30. The jaws are for the most part straight strips of metal and are reduced at their free end to form flat beveled pinching ends 3|. The jaws are mounted in the casing with the ends 3| thereof projecting therefrom through the open end l2 of the casing. It is particularly noted that the underside of the jaw 21 is flat for practically its entire length and this flat side is mounted to slide along the guide way l5 with a sliding fit between the side walls 2| and 22. In this way one of the jaws is held relatively fixed against lateral movement and when so fixed it is easier to locate the jaw 21 on one side of the hair to be grasped than would be the case if both laws were free to move when contacting with objects in the vicinity of the hair to be grasped.

Aspring 32 hereinafter sometimes referred to as an ejecting spring is positioned between the closed end I3 and thepair of jaws preferably with a spring bearing or follower cup 33 between the spring and the extension 29. This spring acts in a tendency to move the jaws bodily along the guide Way from the retracted position shown 0 shown in Fig. 2 and thus limit the forwardly-wo jected position of the jaws.

The jaws 26 and 21 are urged into their inop-' erative, opened, unclutched position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a V-spring '35, the crotch portion of which is coiled about pin 28 with oneleg 36 engaging the underside of jaw 26 and the other leg 3! bearing ;on the top of the jaw 21. It is understood, of course, that in assembling the jaws the spring 35 is first located between the extensionsj29 after which the pin 28 is inserted in place. "A second V-spring 38 is positioned between lever !8 and jaw 26 and acts normally=to maintain these two parts in their open or -sep' arated positions as shown in full line in Fig. 2. Spring 38 likewise has its crotch portion looped about pivot pin '25 with one leg 39 bearing on'the underside of the lever I8 andthe other leg 40 constituting a link and having itsfree endpivoted to pin 4| extending between lugs 42-43 on lever 26 and which lugs are positioned on opposite sides of the corrugation 36. Preferably the leg 39 is contained in a retaining groove formed on the underside of the lever l8.

In operation and assuming that the parts are in the open distended position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and that the pinching ends 3| are properly located to grasp a hair or other small object, the operator holding the barrel in the hand exerts pressure on the outer side of the lever I8 to press the same towards the closed position. The initial movement shifts the lever from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 which lever acts through theilink 40 to close the movable jaw 26 on to the relatively fixedjaw 21 .and until the jaw-26 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thuspinching the article to be grasped between the clamping fingers 3|. A continued downward movement of the lever from the dotted line position in Fig. 2 towards the fully-collapsed position shown in Fig. 3 causes the link to approach its longitudinally extending. position and incidentallysliding .the clamped jaws from the fully extended position shown in Fig. .2 to a less fullyextendedposition shown in Fig. 3, .and incidentally placing spring 32 under compression.

.On releasing restraint on the lever l8, the three springs which have been placed under tension in the. previous movement, are now free to reassert themselves and" spring 32 will shift the jaws longitudinally from the retracted position: shown in Fig. 3, towards the projected position shown in Fig. 2 and .until stop 34 engages with the hinged endof the lever [B as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time the separating spring 35 will act to spread apart the jaws, thus tending to lift the coverjand-lever 18., Additionally the spring-38 acts directly upon the lever 18 eventually to move itinto its fully opened position. 7 I

It is understood that this operation may be repeated as often as desired, each successive closing of the lever causing the jaws to moveinto their gripping position and then to "cause the jaws to move inwardly of the tube. Replacing the cap ll inp'osition as shown in Fig. 3-..acts to hold the lever in itsgclosed position with the 'jaws collapsed and housed within the casing.

It is a feature of this disclosure to so arrange the parts that the angle formed between the lever I8 and the leg 40 and which angle faces the pivotal mounting ofthe lever, is less than 45 and in the instant case is about 25 so that the forces which cause the inward swinging of the lever about its fulcrum at 20 will be resolved into components of unequal value with the lesser component forcing the jaw 26 laterally into engage- 'ment with.it s. companion 21 and therethrough to laterally'in the direction of the lever. In other words, the pinched ends 3| move in spaceaway from. the original location of the grasped hair or other article, not only lengthwise in the direction of the holder'but the holder itself pulls transversely of the length of the holder towards the thumb or finger of the operator, whichever may be pressingon the lever. In this way the hair is removedwith a snap actionat a sharp angle to the plane'ofthe surface containing the hair. This causes less pain than if the hair were pulled out in the'direction of its ,own length.

Another feature of thepresent disclosure is the ease with which the parts shown in Fig. 5 may be assembled outsideof'the casing. and these parts as a unit are mounted in the casing by the simple act of securing the assembly pin 20 in position. It is therefore simply necessary to drop the spring 32 and cap 33 into-the closed 'end of the casing, locate the preassembled parts shown .in Fig. 5 in position, and fasten-the partsin place by the use of a single pin ZBLand which pin. can be readily withdrawn simply by punching it out of place in the event that it is desiredLto'strai-g'hten or replace the springs or other parts -of the contents of the casing. As the pins 20 and 4| are confined in place by the side walls 2| and 22 of the casing they are-.heldagainst accidental displace ment. As the actuating lever 18 is not a spring as in known structures, but is'a rigid member, it 'may be :made of gold or other expensive material of which the casing is constructed, thus tending'to provide a tweezenas an artistically appearing casing which :gives. no external evidence ofits utility, and inone commercial form of the present disclosure the article is designed to form a companion piece with a vanity case container, but itis obviously within the scope of the inventionto form the article so as to simulate apencil or fountain'pen. When closed the article isfree. of externally projecting parts which might be caught .in the clothing or pocket book of the user.

a While there .has been. shown, described and pointed out incthe annexed claims, certain novel features of the invention,.it willbe understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the .form and details of the device illustrated anclzinits operation may;be;made by those skilled in the art withoutzadeparting from thespirit of the invention.

1. f A tweezer including a tubular casing rectangular in;cross"-section. and-withone flat side providinga guidewayron its inner face, one end of the' casing. and .the side thereof opposite the guideway. beingyopen and. the. other end closed, a pair :of: .jaws .hin'gedlywconnected at one end and mounted with. the hingedzendsr onzthe casi- "means forsuccessively closing the jaws into their ingand the free ends projecting therefrom out through the open end of the casing, .one of the jaws having a fiat outer face slidable along said guideway, an actuating lever hinged to the casing, and :a link having one end pivoted to the other jawand its other end to the lever and said -lever acting through the link to force the jaw attached thereto into clutching engagement with its. companion and therethrough force the companion against said guideway and subsequently move the jaws with the companion guided along said guideway' towards the closed end and a spring between the closed end of the casing and the jaws tending to project the jaws longitudinally out through the open end of the casing.

2.1A tweezer comprising a pair of jaws pivotally connected at' one end and, each comprising fiat beveled ends forming clamping fingers at the other ends, with the portions of each jaw'between the fiat ends and the pivoting end longitudinally corrugated, a separating spring between the jaws, a lever actuated means for closingthe jaw against the resistance of said separating spring,:said means including a link engaging one of the jaws and a hinge connection between the linkand jaw including a pair of lugs formed on opposite sides of the corrugation on said jaw and a pin passed through the link and lugs..

3. A tweezer including a tubular barrel having an open end, a lever pivoted at one end to the barrel; and having an actuating movement of its free end in a direction towards the barrel, a pair of jaws mounted for sliding movement in the barrel and projecting therefrom through the open end,:means including a link between the lever and one of the jaws for successively moving the jaws relatively to each other into their pinching position and then to move the jaws bodily along the barrel into .aless projecting position, three springs tending to resist the actuating'movement of the lever, ;.one :of said springs disposed to resist the bodily movement of the jaws into the barrel, ,anotherspring between the jaws tending to resist therelative closing movement of the jaws and the third springacting'directly on the lever and tending to .resist its movement towards the barrel, and said springs reacting when the lever is free of restraint to move the free end of the samein 1a contra-direction away from the barrel and thus restore the jawsto their normal open and maximumly projected positions.

4. A tweezer including'a tubular barrel having an open end, a lever pivoted atone end to the barrel'and having an actuating movement of its free end in a direction towards the barrel,

towards the barrel.

a pair of jaws mounted for sliding movement in the barrel and projecting therefrom through the open end, meansincluding a link between the lever and one of the jaws for successively moving the jaws relatively to each other into their pinching positionand then to move the jaws bodily along the barrel into a less projecting position, three springs tending to resist the actuating movement of the lever, one of said springs disposed to resist the bodily movement of the jaws pinching position and shifting the jaws as a unit when'so .iclosed along the barrel, said means including said lever and a link having one end pivoted to the lever and the other end pivoted to.

said companion jaw, and said pivoted end of the lever'beingbetween thelink and the pivoted ends of the jaws, and a cap for closing one end of the barrel and for retaining said lever in acol- ,lapsed .position parallel with the barrel.

6. .Atweezerincludinga tubular barrel, a rigid lever pivoted ,at one end-to the barrel, a pair of jaws pivotally :connected and slidably mounted in the barrel with one jaw engaging the barrel and its .companion facing the lever, means. for l successively closing the jaws into their pinching position and shifting the jaws as a unit when -so closed along the barrel, said means including said lever and a link having one end pivoted to the lever and'the other end pivoted to said companion jaw, and said pivoted end of the lever being .betweenth'e .linkfland the pivoted ends of the jaws.

.7. A'twe'ezer including a-tube forminga handle,

.a pair of jaws having their 'rear ends :pivotally connected, slidably-mounted in the tube and {havtion against the tension of saidseparating spring .and on the .continued .closing movement of the lever tocause both jaws to move bodily inwardly of the tubeagainstthe resistance of said ejecting spring.

8. A tweezer, including in combination, a guide- :way tube forming a handle, a pair of coacting jaws having theirinner ends pivotally connected andslidably mounted asa unit in the guideway tube and thin clutching ends projecting beyond the tube, an ejecting spring in the tube tending to :move both of the jawsoutwardly of the tube, a rigid actuating lever :pivoted to the tube and a link'having its advance end pivoted to the lever and its rear end pivoted :toone -of the jaws whereby upon pressure being applied to the lever said jaws will move relatively into contact and 'will subsequently be moved rearwardly.

'9. :A tweezer including a tubular barrel .having aportion of one side open, a pin extending across said opening, an actuating lever hinged to said pin and forming a closure for said open side, a-pair of jaws slidably mounted insaid member, 'means'actuated by the lever for closing the jaws into pinchingposition and for sliding the same bodily'in onedirection along the member, one of said jawsprovided with a stop coacting with the hinged end of the lever to limit the sliding movement of the jaws in the opposite direction and an ejecting spring in the chamber and bearing on the jawsto force them bodily in the first named direction until resisted by the engagement Iof the stop with the lever,-and a cap for closing one end of the barrel and for telescoping the free end of the actuating lever, said cap-constituting a looking. means [for securing the lever closure in closed-position .with thejawscollapsed into gtheir pinching position and with said ejecting spring under tension. a

10. A tweezer including a tubular barrel having a portion of one side open, a pin extending across said opening, an actuating lever hinged to said pin and forming a closure for said open side, a pair of jaws slidably mounted in said member, means actuated by the lever for closing the jaws into pinching position and for sliding the same bodily in one direction along the member, one of said jaws provided with a stop coacting with the hinged end of the lever to limit the sliding movement of the jaws in the opposite direction and an ejecting spring in the chamber and bearing on the jaws to force them bodily in the first named direction until resisted by the engagement of the stop with the lever.

11. A tweezer including a tubular barrel constituting a handle and providing a jaw guideway, a pair of jaws mounted for longitudinal movement along said barrel and having one jaw substantially fixed in said guideway against outward transverse movement away from its companion thereby to hold one of the jaws substantially fixed relative to the handle while the jaws are being moved to pinching position, and means operatively connected with its companion for successively moving said companion towards .the first named jaw and then moving both jaws as a unit longitudinally along said guideway.

12. A tweezer including a tubular barrel having an opening along one side, a closure for said opening constituting an actuating lever having one end pivoted to the barrel at one end of the opening, a pair of jaws pivotally connected at one end and mounted in said barrel, a link forming spring between the lever and one of the jaws tending to separate the lever and said jaw, said lever acting through said spring as a link to slide the jaws bodily in one direction along said barrel, a second spring between the jaws tending to separate the same and a third spring acting on the jaws and tending to slide them bodily along the barrel and tending to resist and cushion the action of thelever moving the jaws into closed position and in sliding the jaws in the contra-direction along the barrel.

13. A tweezer including a tubular member provided with an opening along one side, a cover for said opening hingedly mounted at one end thereof, a pair of jaws hingedly connected at one end, slidably mounted in said member, with one of the jaws engaging the side opposite the opening and the other jaw facing said opening, and a V-spring having its crotch portion pivoted to the cover with one leg pivoted to said jaw facing the opening and forming a link between the cover and said jaw and the other leg bearing on the inner side of the cover.

14. A tweezer comprising a containing casing, open at one end and a closure for the open end, a pair of jaws housed in the casing and closure, mechanism for actuating the jaws, and said mechanism including a hinged portion of the side of the casing and means connecting said hinged portion of the casing with the jaws for operating the jaws, and said casing with its end closure defining the outlines of the tweezer.

15. In a tweezer, the combination of a casing,

. a pair of jaws mounted to slide longitudinally along the casing, means for moving the jaws into pinching position and for sliding the jaws bodily along the casing, said means including a rigid lever having one end pivoted to the casing, and a link having one end pivoted to the lever and having its other end pivoted to one of the jaws, said lever and link arranged so that the maximum angle formed between the lever and link and facing the pivotal mounting of the lever is materially less than 45 and approximately 25 whereby the initial swinging movement of the lever in its operative movement about its axis is resolved into two unequal components, with the larger component extending in the direction of shifting movement of the jaws along the casing.

16. A tweezer comprising a tubular holder open at one end, a pair of jaws having one end slidably mounted in said tubular holder and having their pinching ends protruding from the open end of the holder, a portion of one side of the tubular holder adjacent said open end being inflexible and hingedly connected to the remaining portion, and a link connecting said hinged side to the jaws for closing the jaws one towards the other and for sliding the jaws longitudinally relative to the tubular member as the hinged side is swung inwardly towards the holder.

17. A tweezer including a holder, a pair of jaws, slidably mounted therein and manually actuated means including a lever forming one side of the holder for closing the jaws relative to each other into a clutching position and for causing the clamping jaws and holder to jump bodily in a direction forming an angle to the length of the holder.

18. A tweezer including a container, a pair of jaws pivotally connected at one end and adapted to be housed in the container, resilient means at the pivotal ends of the jaws, bearing outwardly thereon and thus tending to open the jaws, manually actuated means for closing the jaws and a closure for the container linked to one of the jaws acting to maintain the jaws in their closed position and acting to place said resilient means under tension.

19. A tweezer comprising an open end container, a pair of jaws pivotally connected at one end and forming a unit slidably mounted in the container with the operative ends of the jaws protruding from the container through its open end, the inner face of the container forming on one side thereof a channel shaped guideway, one of said jaws fitted in said guideway, and guided for longitudinal movement thereby and restrained from movement transversely thereof, resilient means reacting between the jaws tending to maintain them in their normal non-clutching position and manually actuated means acting on the other jaw to successively close the same on to the guided jaw against the resistance of said resilient means and then to shift both of the jaws along the guideway in a direction away from the open end of the container.

20. A tweezer including a tubular container having an open end and rectangular in cross section, said container at the open end including a lower side, two side walls and a movable cover hingedly connected to the container, a pair of jaws hingedly connected at one end and mounted in the container, one of the jaws having a flat portion mounted to slide on the lower side and fitted between the side walls, the hinged end of the other jaw being also located between the side walls, and connecting means between the movable cover and said other jaw for closing the same on to its companion and for sliding said companion along the guideway provided by the lower side and the two side walls of the container.

SAUL] SHALER. 

